4,000 ‘fictitious cases’: HC gives split order

Staff Correspondent:  The High Court (HC) on Tuesday gave a split order on a writ petition filed seeking investigation into 4,000 ‘fictitious cases’ filed against leaders and activists of different political parties including BNP across the country in September.

An HC bench of Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal gave the split order.

Senior Justice of the bench Moinul Islam Chowdhury directed the inspector general of police (IGP) to monitor and inquire into the alleged fictitious cases filed in Dhaka and to submit a report before this court in 60 days.

The judge also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government to explain why filing such cases should not be declared illegal.

Meanwhile, Justice Md Ashraful Kamal, a junior member of the bench, summarily rejected the writ petition.

As per the rule, the writ petition will now be sent to the chief justice. After receiving the petition, Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain will assign another HC bench for hearing and disposing of the petition.

Dr Kamal Hossain, Barrister Moudud Ahmed and Advocate Khandakar Mahbub Hossain stood for the writ petition while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and Deputy Attorney General Ekramul Haque Tutul represented the state in the court.

Earlier on September 22, a writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking its directive to the Home Secretary for the formation of an independent committee for probing 4,000 ‘fictitious cases’ filed against BNP leaders and activists across the country in September.

Three senior lawyers of BNP -- former vice-chairman of Bangladesh Bar Council Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, former minister Advocate Nitai Roy Chowdhury and BNP's law affairs secretary advocate Sanaullah Mia -- filed the writ petition.

The Home Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner of Detective Police (North Zone), Additional Deputy Commissioner of Ramna Zone Police Commissioner, Ramna and Shahbagh Police Stations Officers-in-Charge were made defendants in the write petition.

The petitioners also demanded a directive to include representatives from the United Nations Human Rights Commission, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Asian Human Rights Commission.

Besides, they sought issuance of a rule for taking action against those who were involved in filing the ‘fictitious cases’.


risingbd/Dhaka/Oct 9, 2018/Mahidi/AI